Monogram Plus allows you to be you. It’s able to customize all five complications on your watch face with emojis, text, or images. Simply launch the app, choose whichever face you have set, and then fill in the blank. Make sure Monogram Plus is installed on your Apple Watch, and deep press on the watch’s face in order to customize the complications. Your chosen emoji, text, or image will then appear! You can also choose the color of your complication, and force the complication to refresh.

Monogram Plus is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4-star rating with a total of 362 ratings.

Universal:

Dawn of Crafting ($0.99 → Free, 89.1 MB): Craft items in order to build a civilization in Dawn of Crafting. Fans of puzzle and crafting games.

Civilization is at a crossroads. It’s your job to bring it into the light by building entire villages from scratch. To do so, you’ll be tasked with crafting items and mastering 15 important skills. You’ll have to discover recipes through trial and error, and craft major inventions to ensure survival. Dawn of Crafting introduces new mechanics over its hours upon hours of gameplay, so just sit back and enjoy. The game also includes iCloud syncing, three save slots, and achievements and leaderboards.

Dawn of Crafting is available for free for a limited time. It has a 5-star rating with a total of 805 ratings.

This is mobile shopping done right. Take advantage of the last day of Prime Day and receive great deals on popular products like the Echo Dot, Bose QuietComfort headphones, and 4K TVs. You’re able to sign in with your existing Amazon account and access your cart, payment, and shipping options. Use Alexa to shop as well as play music, tell a joke, listen to eBooks, and more.

Amazon – Shopping made easy is available for free for a limited time. It has a 3.5-star rating with a total of 153010 ratings.

Each level includes a single flame, movable pieces, and very little room to operate in. It’s up to you to slide the pieces every which way in order to create a path from the frozen key to the flame. Levels aren’t timed, but your moves will be counted. The game includes a total of 100 levels.

Slide Tetromino Premium is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4.5-star rating with a total of 663 ratings.

That concludes today’s issue of Apps Gone Free. If you like staying on top �of these daily deals, don’t forget to check out our free AppsGoneFree app. It provides all the deals each day, and even an archive of past deals that are still active.

Developers:

If you are a developer who would like to get your app included in our “Apps Gone Free” daily lists, here’s our basic set of rules:

It must have at least a three-star average rating at the time it goes free.
The app must not have been free numerous times (3+) over the last six months.
The free version of your app must not include ads.

To submit an app, simply send a request to tyler@appadvice.com with the subject “Apps Gone Free.” Please include the name of the app, a link to it in the App Store, when and for how long you intend to offer the app for free, and anything else you would like to share. We will take it from there.

Right now, it looks like the deals apply to EVGA and MSI models, highlighted on Nvidia’s site but fulfilled by UK retailers like Scan and Ebuyer. By our reckoning, The GTX 1050 Ti and GTX 1060 are already the best value graphics cards on the market, so throwing in a free SSD makes them even more alluring for anyone building (or upgrading) a rig for 1080p PC gaming.

The GTX 1050 Ti models included in this promotion come with a 120GB Kingston A400 SSD, while the GTX 1060 comes with a 240GB Kingston A400 SSD. These aren’t the fastest SSDs on the planet, but they’re still way faster than mechanical hard drives. That can make a big difference when it comes to reducing game load times and even preventing hitches in games that heavily utilise background streaming.

Change adds a bit of a style to a normally dull app category. You’re able to choose the currencies you’re converting from and to by swiping across the fields at the top of the screen. As you swipe, you’ll see the conversions instantly performed. You’re also able to reorder, activate, and deactivate currencies by tapping on the “+” button at the bottom of the screen. Change includes a total of 85 currencies.

Change – Currency Converter is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4-star rating with a total of 58 ratings.

Picture Perfect’s name says it all. It’ll help you take your photos from average to outstanding in mere moments. You’ll find all kinds of cropping tools, filters, stickers, tonal adjustments, blur and sharpening effects, color splash options, fonts, and even emoticons to utilize. Just go through the toolbar items one-by-one.

Picture Perfect – All in One is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4.5-star rating with a total of 1111 ratings.

Wordimals is loaded with fun themed word searches that the whole family can enjoy. Pick a grid size and a category, and then get to work. At the bottom of the screen you’ll see how many words need to be found and the length of each word. Drag your finger over letters in any direction in order to connect them. Time is ticking, however, so move quickly. The game allows you to skip any level at any time, and features a forgiving hint system. It also includes more than 200 word searches.

Wordimals – Fun animal themed word search! is available for free for a limited time. It has a 5-star rating with a total of 31 ratings.

iPad:

Pro Keyboard with PC layout ($8.99 → Free, 104.2 MB): Get things done more efficiently than ever before with Pro Keyboard. Business professionals.

Pro Keyboard puts everything you need within a finger’s reach no matter your profession. The fully customizable keyboard includes arrow keys, gesture controls, an international thesaurus, multilingual typing support, an embedded calendar, a math keyboard, an emoji toolbar, a multiline text replacement and common phrases panel, an optional Dvorak keyboard, loads of themes and styles, and so much more.

Pro Keyboard with PC layout is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4-star rating with a total of 44 ratings.

That concludes today’s issue of Apps Gone Free. If you like staying on top �of these daily deals, don’t forget to check out our free AppsGoneFree app. It provides all the deals each day, and even an archive of past deals that are still active.

Developers:

If you are a developer who would like to get your app included in our “Apps Gone Free” daily lists, here’s our basic set of rules:

It must have at least a three-star average rating at the time it goes free.
The app must not have been free numerous times (3+) over the last six months.
The free version of your app must not include ads.

To submit an app, simply send a request to tyler@appadvice.com with the subject “Apps Gone Free.” Please include the name of the app, a link to it in the App Store, when and for how long you intend to offer the app for free, and anything else you would like to share. We will take it from there.

When news of Estée Lauder’s acquisition of Too Faced broke, some of us couldn’t help but marvel at the $1.45-billion price tag. (It’s the most expensive buy to date from the company, after all.) However, others worried about the brand’s widely appreciated cruelty-free status: Would it remain intact under the Estée umbrella?

Too Faced cofounder Jerrod Blandino put the concern to rest, immediately telling WWD, “We will not be animal testing, we will not be going into China, we will not be made to fold into a corporate culture that we do not have. [Estée Lauder Companies] love and respect what we have created and are just going to support us and lift us up, without changing us in any way but great.”

Not only have customers found that reassurance comforting, but the discussion also gives a new reason to continue supporting the cause. After all, what better way to spark change than by showing mega-conglomerates just how lucrative cruelty-free cosmetics can be? However, some have addressed frustration in how to identify if something is truly cruelty-free. There are multiple labeling systems, along with a bevy of carefully worded brand statements against animal testing that actually allow for the practice in some instances. So even for those looking to support these brands, they’re not always easy to find.

To help navigate the waters, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite cruelty-free beauty brands for you. Ahead, find brands (some independently owned, some owned by a parent company) that don’t engage in animal testing with either raw or finished materials and products. They also don’t contract other parties to test on animals on their behalf, or sell any products in countries where animal testing is required. Some are drugstore brands, others luxe — but they’re all offering the kind of pigment payoff that’s certifiably lust-worthy, no matter where you stand on the issue.

There is a lot of product out there — some would say too much. At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team, but if you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Pür Cosmetics

As a mineral-based brand that prides itself on being vegan and cruelty-free, we think it’s safe to say that Pür is far too underrated. The products aren’t just made for creating a great look, they also help you reach skin nirvana, thanks to natural, good-for-your skin ingredients. Plus, the brand’s entirely against animal testing and more environmentally friendly than many.

Not only are all of Bliss’ products totally cruelty-free, they’re also seriously budget-friendly. Our favorite pick as of late? The brand’s new silky-smooth Pore Patrol™ clay mask, which cleanses, minimizes pores, keeps oil at bay, and gently exfoliates to prevent pores from clogging later.

RMS BeautyThis indie beauty brand has a massive cult following, thanks to skin-friendly formulations that use organic, virgin coconut oil and other naturals as their base. The range has quickly become a safe haven for those looking to reduce toxicity in their beauty routines. Makeup artist and founder Rose-Marie Swift has said her ultimate goal is to run a brand that is cruelty-, GMO-, nano-, soy-, and gluten-free.

Wet N WildWho knew that one of our go-to drugstore makeup brands is cruelty-free? All the more reason to love it: This super-affordable line and its parent company, Markwins International, are even endorsed by PETA as being cruelty-free.

Ellis FaasWe’ve long appreciated this brand — which was created by legendary makeup artist Ellis Faas — for its universally flattering lipsticks, eyeshadows, and foundation. Even better, since its inception, the independently owned, Amsterdam-based company has been cruelty-free; it tests on “supermodels only.”

Antonym CosmeticsWe don’t know what we love more: The beautiful (and sustainable) bamboo boxes that house Antonym’s powder blushes, foundations, and eyeshadow quads; the brand’s ridiculously soft (and vegan) brushes; or the fact that everything made by the company is eco-minded and cruelty-free.

Essence CosmeticsThis German-based drugstore brand doesn’t only say no to animal testing, it also practices transparency in explaining how and why: Like other brands on this list, it does not sell in China (where animal testing on cosmetics is required) and does not use any raw materials tested on animals.

Essence Cosmetics How to Make Brows Wow Make-Up Box, $9.99, available at Essence Cosmetics.

Essence Cosmetics All About Eyeshadow Palette, $5.49, available at Essence Cosmetics.

Cover FXMakeup artists swear by this line’s vast range of foundation shades and customizable options, which make skin tone-matching a breeze. And editors can’t get enough of the brand’s skin-care boosters. But there’s more to love: It’s also free of parabens, mineral oil, fragrance, talc, and gluten — as well as cruelty-free and PETA-approved.

ChantecailleLots of luxury brands are owned by big conglomerates, but not this one. Instead, it’s woman-owned, vegan, cruelty-free, and free of any animal byproducts. What’s more, it develops products that support animal conservation, like this year’s cause, Conservation Northwest.

On top of being cruelty-free, Fluide is a brand worth watching thanks to its unisex messaging: makeup for him, her, them, everyone. Although the brand itself is still new to the game, it already offers lip gloss, seven-free nail polish, and lots of glitter.

This new beauty brand is looking to cut out all the B.S. (the “bad stuff” — and also the bullshit) by ignoring lackluster FDA standards for beauty products. Instead, PYT is EU compliant and free of parabens, phthalates, and petrolatum while encouraging its customers to never settle for unsafe ingredients for high-quality formulas. For now, the only product you can shop is a super-pigmented eyeshadow palette, but the brand plans to launch products in the face and lipstick categories soon.

Mini Watch Games are ready when you are. You’re able to enjoy 23 different games on your Apple Watch or iPhone. You’ll find everything from puzzle and card games to action and brick-bricking games. On iPhone, some of the games allow for different control methods to better suit the format.

Mini Watch Games 23-in-1 is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4-star rating with a total of 306 ratings.

Basic Calc’s interface is free of distractions and unnecessary functions. Its large keypad area provides ample room for you to make calculations. Basic Calc displays your formulas as they’re crafted, and retains the information in history. On iPhone, swipe down to access history. On iPad, the history will be prominently displayed down the side of the screen. Calculation history can be edited and copied as well.

Basic Calculator Pro is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4.5-star rating with a total of 165 ratings.

French Bulldog Emojis Star allows you to share your appreciation for one of the most lovable and comical dogs. It includes more than 100 emojis spread across seven different categories. You’re able to utilize the emojis via a third-party keyboard or just copy and paste.

French Bulldog Emojis Star is available for free for a limited time. It has a 4.5-star rating with a total of 17 ratings.

That concludes today’s issue of Apps Gone Free. If you like staying on top �of these daily deals, don’t forget to check out our free AppsGoneFree app. It provides all the deals each day, and even an archive of past deals that are still active.

Developers:

If you are a developer who would like to get your app included in our “Apps Gone Free” daily lists, here’s our basic set of rules:

It must have at least a three-star average rating at the time it goes free.
The app must not have been free numerous times (3+) over the last six months.
The free version of your app must not include ads.

To submit an app, simply send a request to tyler@appadvice.com with the subject “Apps Gone Free.” Please include the name of the app, a link to it in the App Store, when and for how long you intend to offer the app for free, and anything else you would like to share. We will take it from there.

2018 NBA free agency has been put to bed. All of the most notable players have settled in with teams new or old, with LeBron James — the greatest basketball player of his generation and most others — snagging the biggest headlines by moving west. That was the league’s biggest earthquake by far, followed by Paul George’s decision to re-up with the Thunder and DeMarcus Cousins’ move to the Warriors. Weeks later, the Spurs traded Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors in a blockbuster swap for DeMar DeRozan.

That’s a lot of crazy stuff for one month.

The good news is that a lot of crazy stuff is on the docket for next July, too. We don’t know what trade requests will pop up over the next 12 months — you think we could have predicted the Kawhi imbroglio a year ago? — but we do know who is on track to be a free agent. And we want you to know, too.

So here’s a list of the top 19 NBA free agents of 2019, followed by additional short lists of players who might opt out and join the market, restricted free agents of note, and other unrestricted free agent meriting consideration. We’ll update this as necessary, should players start signing extensions.

Durant has become the eternal free agent, opting for a series of short deals with escape hatches with the Warriors. Golden State will finally secure Durant’s Bird rights in 2019, meaning they can exceed the cap to pay him the max on a long-term deal if they’d like. (Moreso if he’d like.)

Or, Durant could take the three championships and two or three Finals MVP trophies he’d have at that point, and decide to build a legacy elsewhere. Like with LeBron in Los Angeles, or Kristaps Porzingis in New York, or Dion Waiters in Miami. The world is his oyster.

Kawhi’s reputation has taken a severe blow due to essentially missing the entire year with a quad injury and requesting a trade from the NBA’s model franchise. But once he gets back on the court, his value will snap back into place. He has a player option for 2019-20, so Toronto could convince him to stick around one more year even if it can’t get him to commit long-term.

Irving is one of the best point guards in the league, has plenty of playoff experience, and is just 26 years old. Boston figures to be back in the mix for an NBA Finals berth with Irving leading the way, which should give the Celtics a good shot at keeping him long-term. But Irving is … different. His impending free agency is worth watching even if Boston is the clear favorite.

Butler is expected to decline his player option for 2019-20 to cash in before he turns 30. As evidenced by the Timberwolves’ rise upon his arrival, he’s really good. He’s an effective two-way star who would fit just about anywhere, a healthier but older and less accomplished version of Kawhi.

The first real bill comes due for the organic Warriors core (the Hamptons Five minus Durant and, to a lesser extent, Andre Iguodala). There is disagreement about whether Thompson will take a haircut to keep the group together. We’ll find out either when Thompson negotiates an extension in the run-up to the 2018-19 tip-off or in the early days of 2019 free agency. The Warriors aren’t ruled by the luxury tax, but they are conscious of it. If Klay looks interested in the max, the Warriors might lose him.

6. Karl-Anthony Towns (restricted)

Odds are Towns will not be a restricted free agent in 2019 because he’ll likely sign a max early extension before the October 2018 deadline. If for some reason he does not, the Timberwolves can issue a max offer sheet when 2019 free agency begins to lock him in. He’s not leaving Minnesota unless the Wolves pull off some wackadoo trade.

See above. Porzingis can technically be a restricted free agent in 2019, but there’s like almost no chance that will happen, and if it does, the Knicks will secure him with a max offer sheet immediately.

8. DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins was one of the most high-profile free agents in 2018 despite coming off of a major injury, but shocked everyone by seeking and securing a mid-level exception with the Warriors. He won’t be taking another short, small contract in 2019. If he comes back and plays as he has over the past three years, he’ll be treated like a superstar and could really change a franchise’s fortunes. Keep in mind that LeBron has always liked his game.

Horford may not walk away from a $30 million player option for 2019-20 given his age (33 when 2019 free agency begins), but he could opt out to help the Celtics fit all their talent into the payroll. He seems happy in Boston and pleased with his teammates. That counts for a lot.

The Hornets are not trading Walker … yet. He can walk in 2019, so if Charlotte gets off to a rough start in 2018-19 under new coach James Borrego, that position may be revisited. Walker will be highly sought-after in free agency given his scoring prowess, great attitude, and reputation for stepping up in big moments. Like Cousins (and essentially everyone on this list), LeBron’s Lakers seem like a target.

Middleton is really, really good. He’s the chef’s kiss emoji of non-superstar three-and-D players. He’s the first player on this list that won’t be earning a max contract and could conceivably become overpaid. Milwaukee and any other suitor would like to land him on a reasonable deal in the $15-20 million range; odds are he’ll end up in the $20-25 million range. That might be OK, because he’s really good! With the Bucks moving on from Jabari Parker this summer, it opens space up to commit to Middleton in 2019.

Bledsoe, on the other hand, is a question mark for the Bucks going forward. Middleton clearly fits perfectly with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Bledsoe? Perhaps not. But Bledsoe has some unique gifts and, in theory, can be an excellent two-way player.

He’s also represented by Klutch Sports, which is something to keep in mind considering that LeBron’s Lakers will have plenty of cap space in 2019.

13. Tobias Harris

Harris turned down a decent extension offer from the Clippers (a reported five years and $80 million), signaling that he will be going after big money even if it means moving again in 2019. He’s on his fourth team in seven years, which isn’t a knock, but also isn’t quite an endorsement. He’s a good scorer who became (at least for one season) an excellent shooter with the Pistons and Clips, and he doesn’t need the ball a ton. A nice third piece for a good team.

The Nuggets will decide next summer whether to pay Millsap $30 million for the 2019-20. That’s roughly what Denver is paying him each year now; the issue is that Millsap will turn 34 this season and the rest of the Nuggets roster is getting mighty expensive. Should Denver release him, what Millsap commands in what should be his last substantial contract will depend wholly on how he and the Nuggets do this season. The other option is that Millsap could decide to go ring-chasing.

Jordan took a one-year deal with the Mavericks for some reason. The official explanation is that he wants to hit free agency again in 2019 when more teams have money. But he gave up his Bird rights in the move, and he’ll be a year older when chasing the bag, and … whatever, it happened.

We’ll see if Jordan can secure a major contract in 2019 or if he’s going to be forced into short-term deals going forward. How improved Dallas is this season should matter a lot, because he’ll get credit.

Isaiah is also looking to cash in come 2019 after deferring free agency a year. Thomas signed a flyer with the Nuggets with hopes of reclaiming his reputation after a horrendous year of multiple trades and bad vibes. We’ll see.

We’ve entered the zone of second-tier stars with huge player options. Gasol’s 2019-20 option is for $26 million. Whether he picks it up may not rest on recapturing that salary level on the market. Gasol looked miserable all last season, and if the Grizzlies are awful again, he might just slide out even if it means giving up money.

Dragic has a $19 million player option for 2019-20. On the one hand, he’s already 32 years old, and was only an All-Star this past season based on rampant injuries to other players. On the other hand, there’s so much cap space available in 2019 that opting out to pick up a 2- or 3-year deal for $20 million or so a season would be smart, and is definitely attainable if Dragic has another good season.

Last but not least, there is Harrison Barnes, who has a $25 million player option for 2019-20. As with Jordan, the Mavericks’ performance will dictate a lot here. Barnes averaging 19-6 on average efficiency for a bloody bad team is a lot different than Barnes averaging 19-6 on average efficiency for a decent team.

Still, it’s likely that Barnes will opt in: evidence suggests he’s not a $25 million player. If not, hey, the Warriors might have an opening if KD leaves!

Other intriguing restricted free agents

These players are eligible for extensions this summer. Otherwise, incumbent teams will have matching rights in the summer of 2019.

You can spend countless hours fine-tuning your SEO, polishing your content, and launching marketing campaigns, but if you do not capture your customers’ attention from the start, your conversion rates will continue to disappoint. The current average add-to-cart rate clocks in at 9.67%. If your number is lower than this, there’s no better time than the present to take action. Luckily, there are a number of hacks that will help improve your rates, while simultaneously saving you time and money.

1. Create a Sense of Urgency

Creating urgency on your website is not about pressuring people to purchase your products or services. Creating urgency is best done by creating a deadline to push your customers to act faster than they would otherwise.

If a sales event feels urgent, people will rush to purchase before the sale runs out. 2 great examples of this are Black Friday and the recent Amazon Prime Day sale. Also keep in mind that numerous studies have found that more people are likely to make a purchase during the tail end of a sale than the beginning since there’s FOMO by that point (fear of missing out). So be ready to step up your marketing game towards the end to really wrap things up with a bang.

A few ways you can increase sense of urgency outside of running sales include:

Adding countdown timers to your landing pages
Promoting email-gated content with limited time bonuses, such as checklists and templates
Offering free shipping for a limited time
Offering free upgrades for a limited time

2. Embrace the “Try Before You Buy” Principle

One of the most effective ways to affect purchasing behavior is through sampling. Regardless of whether the ‘sampling’ is in the form of a free trial of something or samples, the bottom line is that people love samples.

PDF Pro does a great job of this on the landing page, advertising a free trial with a “free upgrade.” Credit card companies use this extensively as well, offering credit with no interest for a certain period of time. A free sample with a strong sense of urgency can be an incredibly powerful way to push customers to try your services – and likely convert to long-term customers.

Loyalty programs are a great way to turn people into repeat buyers. Kohl’s is well known for its Kohl’s Cash Program, which rewards both in-store and online shoppers with $10 for every $50 that they spend during certain promotional periods. As simple as it may sound, Kohl’s has managed to successfully improve their customer loyalty through this initiative.

Any time you make reward your readers for returning to your website, you can improve customer loyalty in the same way. Rewarding customers for referrals, offering discounts for frequent purchasers, and hosting sales, discounts, and coupons on major anniversaries can all imitate the success of loyalty programs in brick-and-mortar stores.

4. Don’t Overwhelm People with Choices

For this to work, you have to give people the right number of options so that they are able to compare different products, but not to the point point of overwhelm. This sweet spot of choices eliminates distractions and, subsequently, increases conversions.

Often times, you’ll find that having tons of options will result in more traffic, but generally, you won’t see it converting into actual purchases. Plus, fewer options suggests that the options you’re presenting are the best options available, which can help improve customer satisfaction rates.

Amazon is a well-known ecommerce site that’s built an entire platform around offering customers a multitude of different options. While the amount of products that Amazon features is beneficial in certain situations, it can also lead to overwhelm due to the sheer number of choices for any single product. For example, if you type headphones on the search bar on Amazon, you’ll get 100,000 results. Within those results, you have sub-categories and sub-sub categories.

5. Write Compelling and Concise Calls To Action (CTAs)

If you’ve ever signed up to a subscription or email list online, then you have definitely come across some powerful calls to action. CTAs come in three different styles:

Simple and effective
Fantastic wording,
Great balance of text with multiple buttons

There are different ways to write compelling CTAs, depending on what you want someone to do on your website. For example, do you want someone to sign up for a free trial of something? If so, say so using powerful language like “Claim Your Free Trial.” As someone is leaving, do you want them to see a pop-up both that invites them to opt-in to your newsletter so that you can continue to market to them in the future? If so, entice them by using language like “Send Me Specials Now!”

As an ecommerce site, you need to constantly be refining your CTAs, since they just may be the deciding factor between someone buying – or abandoning their shopping cart all together. Evernote has a simple and straightforward one-liner: ‘Remember Everything.’ It’s short and easily remembered.

Test out different types of text on your buttons as well. Some of the most common include:

Get Started
Subscribe
Join Free (for a specified period of time)
Sign Up For Free,
Sign Up

Shout Me Loud‘s sign-up on the home page has a strong CTA that doesn’t feel too overwhelming. Microsoft’s simple but powerful “Shop Now” links are a strong motivation as well.

Now Get Out There and Execute!

Researchers have been studying consumer behavior and psychology for the past eighty years, and the foundational basics of sales 101 hasn’t changed during that time. Convincing someone to buy means identifying the problem and then providing a solution to it. While optimizing sales can – and often does – involve trial-and-error, and hacks often work differently across varying industries, these tips should still help boost sales on your website. Just make sure that you are consistently tracking the results of your efforts and fine-tuning, as needed. Optimization is ALWAYS the name of the game.